Issam Michael Fares was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, in 1937.[1][2] He was educated at Tripoli College, and graduated in 1954.[1]
Career
In 1954, at the age of seventeen, Fares left his homeland to work as a clerk at a catering and food services firm in Qatar. Two years later, he was heading Abela Group’s finances and subsequently managing its operations in Pakistan, Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia.[citation needed]
At age 38, Fares established a civil engineering and construction firm, which completed many notable projects including the world's longest international bridge, which connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.[3]
He then sold the company to British Aerospace, and used the proceeds to buy US-based investment firm, Wedge Group; a company that he heads today.[4][5]
Politics
In
the general elections of 2000, Fares won the seat of Akkar, the first district of the North Lebanon.[6] He served as deputy prime minister of Lebanon from 2000 to 2005.[7]
Fares has 3 sons with his first wife. He is married to Hala Fares, his second wife.[8] They have a daughter, Noor Fares.
Issam Fares owns one of the 200 largest superyachts in the world, the Wedge Too. It has a length of 66m, and was designed by Philippe Starck. It was built in 2002 in the Netherlands.[9]
Fares has donated over 1 billion US dollars to various political, educational and philanthropic institutions.[10]
